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Math charts · kindergarten to 3rd grade

Free printable

A number line puts numbers in order with equal spaces between them. Children hop along it to count on, add, subtract and compare, and it is the same tool they will use later for fractions and negative numbers.

5 versions below · color or ink saver · CCSS K.CC.A.2, 1.OA.C.5, 2.MD.B.6

How to use number lines

  1. 1Start at the first number. Put a finger or a counter on the number you start with.
  2. 2Hop to add, hop back to subtract. For 7 + 5, start at 7 and make five hops to the right. For 12 - 4, start at 12 and hop four to the left.
  3. 3Draw the hops. Draw a curved arrow for each hop and write the number on top. It shows the thinking, not just the answer.
  4. 4Compare two numbers. The number farther to the right is greater. Children can see it before they learn the < and > signs.

More math for kindergarten to 3rd grade

Common questions

How do you use a number line to add?

Start at the first number and hop to the right as many times as the second number. Where you land is the sum. For 6 + 3, start at 6 and hop three times to land on 9.

What is a blank number line for?

A blank number line lets children choose the numbers. Teachers use it for counting by 2s, 5s or 10s, for numbers past 20, and later for fractions.

When do children learn about negative numbers?

The Common Core introduces negative numbers on a number line in 6th grade, but many 5th graders meet them earlier through temperature. The -10 to 10 line is a gentle first look.

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